Design support apparatus, design support method, and program

ABSTRACT

An input reception unit of a design support apparatus receives input of a definition attribute name of a product to be designed. A definition attribute obtaining unit, control attribute obtaining unit and stress obtaining unit obtain parameter names usable for calculating a strength value and stress value, based on the definition attribute name. The input reception unit further receives input of parameter values of the parameter names. A strength calculation unit calculates a strength value of the product to be designed in accordance with a predetermined calculation procedure using the parameter value. The stress calculation unit calculates a value of stress applied to the product to be designed in accordance with a predetermined calculation procedure using the parameter value. The comparison report unit compares the strength value and the stress value, and reports report information associated with those values in a case where the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/243,652 filed Sep. 16,2002 U.S. Pat. No. 6,741,900; the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a design support apparatus, a designsupport method, and a program for realizing these apparatus and methodin a computer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there have been proposed design support methods usingcomputers, such as CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer AidedManufacturing) systems, etc. When designing apparatuses constituted byvarious components, whether those components and apparatuses made ofthose components satisfy requirements must be fully checked. Computersupports are demanded also in such situations.

Further, it is difficult for man to predict with ease at the time ofdesigning whether the designed product will cause any problem when it isactually manufactured. It requires years of experience and sense toacquire knowledge for such prediction.

However, today's situation where products to be designed are becomingmore varied and complex requires a design support environment with acomputer which does not simply count on engineers' experience and sense,but shares their experience and sense as “knowledge” and utilizes theknowledge at the time of designing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above describedproblems. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to providea design support apparatus and design support method suitable fordiscovering at the time of designing, possibility of causing any problemin a product (including any kind of parts of a commodity, components anddesigned items) to be designed, and a program for controlling a computerto realize such apparatus and method.

To achieve the above object, the following invention is disclosed inaccordance with the principle of the present invention.

A design support apparatus according to a first aspect of the presentinvention comprises an input reception unit, a strength calculationunit, a stress calculation unit, and a comparison report unit. Thedesign support apparatus is structured as follows:

the input reception unit receives an input of a parameter name of aproduct to be designed and a parameter value associated with theparameter name;

the strength calculation unit calculates a strength value of the productto be designed using the parameter name and the parameter value whoseinput has been received, in accordance with a predetermined calculationprocedure;

the stress calculation unit calculates a value (stress value) of astress which is applied to the product to be designed using theparameter name and the parameter value whose input has been received, inaccordance with a predetermined calculation procedure; and

the comparison report unit compares the calculated strength value withthe calculated stress value, and reports report information which isassociated with the comparison in a case where the comparison satisfiesa predetermined condition.

According to this invention, a strength value corresponding to thestrength of a product to be designed and a stress value corresponding toa stress imposed on the product to be designed are automaticallyestimated and compared with each other at the time of designing.Accordingly, it is possible to obtain various report informationincluding information regarding a problem to be caused.

A design support apparatus according to a second aspect of the presentinvention comprises a definition attribute dictionary unit, a strengthdictionary unit, a stress dictionary unit, a comparison reportdictionary unit, an input reception unit, a definition attributeobtaining unit, a strength obtaining unit, a stress obtaining unit, areport information obtaining unit, a strength calculation unit, a stresscalculation unit, and a comparison report unit. The design supportapparatus is structured as follows:

the definition attribute dictionary unit stores a definition attributename, parameter names which relate to the definition attribute name, andremarks about whether the respective parameter names are a controlattribute or a stress attribute, in association with one another;

the strength dictionary unit stores a strength name, a parameter name ofa control attribute which is necessary for calculating the strengthname, and a procedure for calculating a value (strength value)associated with the strength name using a value (parameter value) of theparameter name;

the stress dictionary unit stores a stress name, a parameter name whichrelates to the stress name, and a procedure for calculating a value(stress value) associated with the stress name using a value (parametervalue) associated with the parameter name;

the comparison report dictionary unit stores a strength name, a stressname, comparison means for comparing the strength name and the stressname, and report information to be reported in a case where a result ofthe comparison satisfies a predetermined condition, in association withone another;

the input reception unit receives an input of definition attribute namesof a product to be designed;

the definition attribute obtaining unit obtains a definition attributename which is stored in the definition attribute dictionary unit fromamong the input definition attribute names, parameter names which relateto the obtained definition attribute name, and remarks about whether therespective parameter names are a control attribute or a stressattribute;

the strength obtaining unit obtains a strength name which can becalculated using any of the obtained parameter names that is a controlattribute, and a procedure for calculating a strength value associatedwith the strength name, from the strength dictionary unit;

the stress obtaining unit obtains a stress name which can be calculatedusing any of the obtained parameter names that is a stress attribute,and a procedure for calculating a stress value associated with thestress name, from the stress dictionary unit;

in a case where the obtained strength name which can be calculated andthe obtained stress name which can be calculated are stored inassociation with each other in the comparison report dictionary unit,the report information obtaining unit obtains a comparison procedurewhich is stored in association with those strength name and stress name,and report information to be reported in a case where a result of thecomparison satisfies a predetermined condition;

in a case where the comparison procedure and the report information areobtained by the report information obtaining unit, the input receptionunit further receives an input of a parameter value associated with anyof the obtained parameter names that is a control attribute and aparameter value associated with any of the obtained parameter names thatis a stress attribute;

the strength calculation unit calculates a strength value in accordancewith the obtained procedure for calculating a strength value, using theinput parameter value associated with any of the obtained parameternames that is a control attribute;

the stress calculation unit calculates a stress value in accordance withthe obtained procedure for calculating a stress value, using the inputparameter value associated with any of the obtained parameter names thatis a stress attribute; and

the comparison report unit compares the calculated strength value withthe calculated stress value in accordance with the obtained comparisonprocedure, and reports the obtained report information in a case where aresult of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.

According to this invention, it is possible to receive an input of adefinition attribute, a control attribute, and stress of a product to bedesigned from a user, calculate a strength value and stress value, andpresent report information to the user.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may furthercomprise a control attribute dictionary unit and a substitution relationobtaining unit. The design support apparatus may be structured asfollows:

the control attribute dictionary unit stores, in a case where aparameter value associated with a parameter name which is a controlattribute can be substituted by a parameter value associated withanother parameter name which is a control attribute, the parameter namewhich can be used as substitution and the parameter name which can besubstituted, as a substitution relation;

the substitution relation obtaining unit obtains a pair of parameternames which are control attributes and stored in the control attributedictionary unit as a substitution relation, from among the obtainedparameter names which are control attributes;

the input reception unit further receives, in a case where any of theobtained parameter names that is a control attribute is the parametername which is indicated by the obtained substitution relation as can besubstituted, an input of a parameter value associated with the parametername which can be substituted, or a parameter value associated with theparameter name which can be used as substitution; and

in a case where the obtained procedure for calculating a strength valuedesignates use of the parameter value associated with the parameter namewhich is indicated by the obtained substitution relation as can besubstituted and the input reception unit receives an input of theparameter value associated with the parameter name which can be used assubstitution instead of the parameter value associated with theparameter name which can be substituted, the strength calculation unitcalculates a strength value by substituting the parameter valueassociated with the parameter name which can be substituted, by theparameter value associated with the parameter name which can be used assubstitution.

According to this invention, in consideration of a substitution relationbetween a control attribute and another control attribute, even if thevalue associated with a given control attribute is not input, but if thevalue associated with a control attribute which can be used assubstitution of the given control attribute is input, it is possible tocalculate a strength value using the substitutive control attribute, andthus reduce user's workload of inputting.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

in a case where a parameter value associated with a parameter name whichis a control attribute can be calculated in accordance with acalculation procedure using a parameter value associated with anotherparameter name which is a control attribute, the control attributedictionary unit further stores the calculation procedure, the parametername (calculation-use parameter name) which is used in the calculationprocedure, and the parameter name (calculation result parameter name)which is a result of the calculation procedure, as a calculationrelation;

the substitution relation obtaining unit obtains a calculation relationwhich indicates any of the obtained parameter names that is a controlattribute as a calculation result parameter name and its correspondingcalculation-use parameter name, from the control attribute dictionaryunit;

in a case where any of the obtained parameter name that is a controlattribute is the calculation result parameter name of the obtainedcalculation relation, the input reception unit further receives an inputof a parameter value associated with the calculation result parametername, or a parameter value associated with the calculation-use parametername; and

in a case where the obtained procedure for calculating a strength valuedesignates use of the parameter value associated with the calculationresult parameter name of the obtained calculation relation and the inputreception unit receives an input of the parameter value associated withthe calculation-use parameter name instead of the parameter valueassociated with the calculation result parameter name, the strengthcalculation unit obtains the calculation procedure of the calculationrelation from the control attribute dictionary unit, calculates aparameter value in accordance with the calculation procedure using theparameter value associated with the calculation-use parameter name whoseinput has been received, and calculates the strength value bysubstituting the parameter value associated with the calculation resultparameter name by the calculated parameter value.

According to this invention, in a case where a parameter value necessaryfor calculating a strength value can be calculated using a parametervalue already input by a user, it is possible to automatically calculatethe necessary parameter value using the parameter value already input,and further calculate the strength value, and thus reduce user'sworkload of inputting.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

the definition attribute dictionary unit further stores a parent-childrelation between a definition attribute name and another definitionattribute name; and

in a case where any parent-child relation in which a definitionattribute name which has already been obtained by the definitionattribute obtaining unit is a child is stored in the definitionattribute dictionary unit, the definition attribute obtaining unitobtains a definition attribute name which is a parent of theparent-child relation, parameter names which relate to the parentdefinition attribute name, and remarks about whether the respectiveparameter names are a control attribute or a stress attribute.

According to this invention, with regard to definition attributes in aparent-child relation, it is possible to expand a field to be searchedtoward the direction of the parent, and thus obtain more reportinformation. Particularly in a case where the parent-child relation isconstituted such that “the parent represents a more general nature andthe child represents a more specific nature”, the field to be searchedcan be expanded toward the direction of the general nature.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

the definition attribute dictionary unit can store a parent-childrelation in which a given definition attribute name is a parent andanother definition attribute name is a child, and also a parent-childrelation in which the given definition attribute name is a child and theanother definition attribute name is a parent.

According to this invention, two definition attributes which are in aparent-child relation can also be represented as being in a child-parentrelation, and information relating to both of the two definitionattributes is stored in the definition attribute dictionary unit. Due tothis, it is possible to further expand the field to be searched, andobtain more report information.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

the definition attribute dictionary unit further stores a parent-childrelation between a definition attribute name and another definitionattribute name; and

in a case where any parent-child relation in which a definitionattribute name which has already been obtained by the definitionattribute obtaining unit is a parent is stored in the definitionattribute dictionary unit and there are a plurality of definitionattribute names each of which is a child of the parent definitionattribute name, the definition attribute obtaining unit receives aninput for selecting one or more of the plurality of child definitionattribute name(s), and obtains the selected child definition attributename(s), parameter names which relate to the selected child definitionattribute name(s), and remarks about whether the respective parameternames are a control attribute or a stress attribute.

According to this invention, with regard to definition attributes in aparent-child relation, it is possible to expand the field to be searchedtoward the direction of the child and obtain more report information,while it is possible to appropriately urge the user to restrict thefield to be searched so as not to be too broadened. Particularly, in acase where the parent-child relation is constituted such that “theparent represents a more general nature and the child represents a morespecific nature”, it is possible to expand the field to be searchedtoward the direction of the specific nature.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

the definition attribute dictionary unit can store a parent-childrelation in which a given definition attribute name is a parent andanother definition attribute name is a child, and also a parent-childrelation in which the given definition attribute name is a child and theanother definition attribute name is a parent.

According to this invention, two definition attributes which are in aparent-child relation can also be represented as being in a child-parentrelation, and information relating to both of the two definitionattributes is stored in the definition attribute dictionary unit. Due tothis, it is possible to further expand the field to be searched, andobtain more report information. On the other hand, it is possible toappropriately urge the user to restrict the field to be searched so asno to be too broadened.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

the definition attribute dictionary unit further stores an exclusiverelation between a definition attribute name and another definitionattribute name;

report information stored in the comparison report dictionary unitincludes a definition attribute name which relates to the reportinformation itself; and

the comparison report unit reports, among obtained report information,report information whose corresponding predetermined condition issatisfied and which does not include a definition attribute name whichis stored in the definition attribute dictionary unit as constituting anexclusive relation with any of the input definition attribute names.

According to this invention, it is possible to carefully select reportinformation to be actually reported from among the obtained reportinformation and exclude unnecessary report information as much aspossible, and thus present only necessary report information to theuser.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

the input reception unit further receives an input of a to-be-excludeddefinition attribute name which should be excluded from the product tobe designed;

report information stored in the comparison report dictionary unitincludes a definition attribute name which relates to the reportinformation itself; and

the comparison report unit reports, among the obtained reportinformation, report information whose corresponding predeterminedcondition is satisfied and which does not include the inputto-be-excluded definition attribute name.

According to this invention, it is possible to carefully select reportinformation to be actually reported from among the obtained reportinformation and exclude unnecessary report information as much aspossible, and thus present only necessary report information to theuser.

The design support apparatus according to the second aspect may bestructured as follows:

report information stored in the comparison report dictionary unitincludes a definition attribute name which relates to the reportinformation itself; and

the comparison report unit reports, among the obtained reportinformation, report information whose corresponding predeterminedcondition is satisfied and at least one of whose including definitionattribute names is any of the input definition attribute names.

According to this invention, it is possible to carefully select reportinformation to be actually reported from among the obtained reportinformation and exclude unnecessary report information as much aspossible, and thus present only necessary report information to theuser.

A design support method according to a third aspect of the presentinvention comprises an input receiving step, a strength calculatingstep, a stress calculating step, and a comparison reporting step. Thedesign support method is structured as follows:

the input receiving step receives an input of a parameter name of aproduct to be designed and a parameter value associated with theparameter name;

the strength calculating step calculates a strength value of the productto be designed using the parameter name and parameter value whose inputhas been received, in accordance with a predetermined calculationprocedure;

the stress calculating step calculates a value (stress value) of astress which is applied to the product to be designed using theparameter name and parameter value whose input has been received, inaccordance with a predetermined calculation procedure; and

the comparison reporting step compares the calculated strength valuewith the calculated stress value and reports report information which isassociated with a result of the comparison, in a case where the resultof the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.

A design support method according to a fourth aspect of the presentinvention is a method which:

refers to: a definition attribute dictionary unit which stores adefinition attribute name, parameter names which relate to thedefinition attribute name, and remarks about whether the respectiveparameter names are a control attribute or a stress attribute, inassociation with one another;

-   -   a strength dictionary unit which stores a strength name, a        parameter name of a control attribute which is necessary for        calculating the strength name, and a procedure for calculating a        value (strength value) of the strength name using a value        (parameter value) of the parameter name;    -   a stress dictionary unit which stores a stress name, a parameter        name which relates to the stress name, and a procedure for        calculating a value (stress value) of the stress name using a        value (parameter value) of the parameter name; and    -   a comparison report dictionary unit which stores a strength        name, a stress name, comparison means for comparing the strength        name and the stress name, and report information to be reported        in a case where a result of the comparison satisfies a        predetermined condition, in association with one another; and

comprises: an input receiving step; a definition attribute obtainingstep; a strength obtaining step; a stress obtaining step; a strengthcalculating step; a stress calculating step; a report informationobtaining step; and a comparison reporting step. The design supportmethod is structured as follows:

the input receiving step receives an input of definition attribute namesof a product to be designed;

the definition attribute obtaining step obtains a definition attributename which is stored in the definition attribute dictionary unit fromamong the input definition attribute names, parameter names which relateto the obtained definition attribute name, and remarks about whether therespective parameter names are a control attribute or a stressattribute;

the strength obtaining step obtains a strength name which can becalculated using any of the obtained parameter names that is a controlattribute, and a procedure for calculating a value (strength value)associated with the strength name, from the strength dictionary unit;

the stress obtaining step obtains a stress name which can be calculatedusing any of the obtained parameter names that is a stress attribute,and a procedure for calculating a value (stress value) associated withthe stress name, from the stress dictionary unit;

in a case where the obtained strength name which can be calculated andthe obtained stress name which can be calculated are stored inassociation with each other in the comparison report dictionary unit,the report information obtaining step obtains a comparison procedurewhich is stored in association with those strength name and stress name,and report information to be reported in a case where a result of thecomparison satisfies a predetermined condition;

in a case where the comparison procedure and the report information areobtained in the report information obtaining step, the input receivingstep further receives an input of a parameter value associated with anyof the obtained parameter names that is a control attribute and aparameter value associated with any of the obtained parameter names thatis a stress attribute;

the strength calculating step calculates a strength value in accordancewith the obtained procedure for calculating a strength value, using theinput parameter value associated with any of the obtained parameternames that is a control attribute;

the stress calculating step calculates a stress value in accordance withthe obtained procedure for calculating a stress value, using the inputparameter value associated with any of the obtained parameter names thatis a stress attribute; and

the comparison reporting step compares the calculated strength valuewith the calculated stress value in accordance with the obtainedcomparison procedure, and reports the obtained report information in acase where a result of the comparison satisfies a predeterminedcondition.

A program according to a fifth aspect of the present invention causes acomputer to serve as any of the above described design supportapparatuses, or to execute any of the above described design supportmethods.

This program may be stored in various recording media such as a CD-ROM(Compact Disk Read Only Memory), an FD (Flexible Disk), etc., or may bedistributed through a computer communications network such as theInternet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These objects and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become ore apparent upon reading of the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic structure of aninformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic structure of a designsupport apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information stored in a definition attribute dictionaryunit and a control attribute dictionary unit;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information stored in a strength dictionary unit;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information stored in a stress dictionary unit;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information stored in a comparison report dictionary unit;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing procedures of a design support process;and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a part of thecontrol attribute dictionary unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention will be explained below withreference to the attached drawings.

Schematic Structure of Information Processing Apparatus

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic structure of atypical information processing apparatus which can serve as a designsupport apparatus of the resent invention by processing a recordingmedium storing data structure of the present invention.

The information processing apparatus 101 is controlled by a CPU (CentralProcessing unit) 102. When the information processing apparatus 101 isturned on, the CPU 102 executes IPL (Initial Program Loader) which isstored in a ROM 103.

The IPL is a program for reading and executing an OS (Operating System)program which is stored in a recording medium such as a hard disk 104,an FD inserted in an FD drive 110, a CD-ROM inserted in a CD-ROM drive111, etc.

After starting the OS, the CPU 102 executes an application programstored in the hard disk, etc. in accordance with an instruction of auser input by a keyboard 105 or a mouse 106, or in accordance with acontent of a setting file previously written in the hard disk, etc.

The information processing apparatus 101 serves as a design supportapparatus by executing the application program.

Definition attribute, control attribute, strength information, stressinformation, and report information will be stored in a recording mediumsuch as the hard disk 104, an FD inserted in the FD drive 110, a CD-ROMinserted in the CD-ROM drive 111, etc.

The CPU 102 uses a RAM 107 as a temporary work memory area whenexecuting the application program. In addition, a register or cache (notillustrated) prepared in the CPU 102 is used as a temporary work memoryarea.

Along with the execution of the program, the CPU 102 can display reportinformation or intermediate processing result on a display device 108such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), etc., inorder to notify or show such information to the user. When inputtinginstruction by the mouse 106, the user can move a cursor displayed onthe screen by moving the mouse 106, and can select a menu pointed by thecursor by clicking the mouse 106.

The information processing apparatus 101 can perform data communicationwith a computer communications network such as the Internet, through aninterface 109 such as NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, etc. Theinformation processing apparatus 101 can process information regarding aproduct to be designed which is received through the interface 109, cansend processed report information through the interface 109, and canexecute a program received through the interface 109.

There can be employed another embodiment where various kinds of reportinformation are loaded to another computer, and URL (Universal ResourceLocator) of the report information and abstracts of the reportinformation are presented to the user. The user can obtain, ifnecessary, more detailed contents of the report information by accessingthe URL through the interface 109.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic structure of a designsupport apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.The following explanation will be made with reference to FIG. 2. In thefollowing explanation, a polyamide bearing will be employed as anexample of designing.

A design support apparatus 201 comprises a definition attributedictionary unit 202, a strength dictionary unit 203, a stress dictionaryunit 204, a comparison report dictionary unit 205, an input receptionunit 206, a definition attribute obtaining unit 207, a control attributeobtaining unit 208, a strength obtaining unit 209, a stress obtainingunit 210, a report information obtaining unit 211, a strengthcalculation unit 212, a stress calculation unit 213, a comparison reportunit 214, a control attribute dictionary unit 215, and a substitutionrelation obtaining unit 216, and is structured as described below.

The definition attribute dictionary unit 202 stores a name of adefinition attribute, a parameter name relating to the definitionattribute, and a remark about whether the parameter name represents acontrol attribute or a stress attribute, in association with each other.

“Polyamide” and “radial bearing” can be raised as examples of thedefinition attribute names. Parameters relating to “polyamide” include“polyamide wear coefficient K_(pa)” which represents a controlattribute.

Parameters relating to “radial bearing” include “guaranteed operationhour Hr”, “amount of wear tolerance δ” and “wear coefficient K” ascontrol attributes, and “pressure P applied to bearing” and “bearingsliding velocity V” as stress attributes.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information which is stored in the definition attributedictionary unit 202 and the control attribute dictionary unit 215.

As shown in FIG. 3, each information regarding definition attribute inthe definition attribute dictionary unit 202 is stored in a hierarchicalstructure.

In a case where a parameter value associated with a given controlattribute can be substituted by a parameter value associated withanother control attribute, the control attribute dictionary unit 215stores the name of the parameter which can be used as substitution, andthe name of the parameter which can be substituted by another parameter,as substitution relation.

That is, the control attribute dictionary unit 215 stores parameternames of the above described control attributes “wear coefficient K”,“polyamide wear coefficient K_(pa)”, “guaranteed operation hour Hr”, and“amount of wear tolerance δ”, and also stores substitution relation that“wear coefficient K” can be substituted by “polyamide wear coefficientK_(pa)”.

As shown in FIG. 3, such substitution relation is organized in ahierarchical structure.

The strength dictionary unit 203 stores a name of a strength, a name ofa parameter of a control attribute necessary for calculating thestrength, and a procedure for calculating a value associated with thestrength using the value associated with the parameter of the controlattribute.

In the present embodiment, the strength dictionary unit 203 stores“limited PV value” as a strength name. The strength dictionary unit 203stores “guaranteed operation hour Hr”, “amount of wear tolerance δ”, and“wear coefficient K” as parameter names of control attributes necessaryfor calculating the limited PV value, and also stores an equation“limited PV value=δ/(Hr·K)” as a process of calculating the strengthvalue (limited PV value).

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information which is stored in the strength dictionary unit203. As shown in FIG. 4, the strength dictionary unit 203 storesinformation in so-called table format.

Information is organized in the table 401 such that each strengthcorresponds to one of the rows, the name of each strength is stored inthe column 402, one or more parameter name(s) of control attribute(s)for each strength is/are stored in the column 403, and a procedure forcalculating the value associated with each strength is stored in thecolumn 404.

The stress dictionary unit 204 stores a name of a stress, a name of aparameter relating to the stress, and a procedure for calculating thevalue associated with the stress using the value associated with theparameter.

In the present embodiment, the stress dictionary unit 204 stores “PVvalue” as a stress name. The stress dictionary unit 204 stores “pressureP applied to bearing” and “bearing sliding velocity V” as parameters ofstress attributes necessary for calculating the stress, and stores anequation “PV value=P·V” as a procedure for calculating the stress valueusing those parameters.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information which is stored in the stress dictionary unit204. As shown in FIG. 5, the stress dictionary unit 204 storesinformation in so-called table format, likewise the strength dictionaryunit 203.

Information is organized in the table 501 such that each stresscorresponds to one of the rows, the name of each stress is stored in thecolumn 502, one or more parameter name(s) of stress attribute(s) foreach stress is/are stored in the column 503, and a procedure forcalculating the value associated with each stress is stored in thecolumn 504.

The comparison report dictionary unit 205 stores a strength name, astress name, a procedure for comparing those strength name and stressname, and report information representing information to be reportedwhen result of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition inassociation with one another.

In the present embodiment, the comparison report dictionary unit 205stores “PV value” as a stress name, and “limited PV value” as a strengthname. Further, the comparison report dictionary unit 205 stores anexpression “PV value>limited PV value” as a procedure for comparing thestress name and strength name, and stores report information to bereported when this expression is satisfied.

In the present embodiment, the report information represents knowledgethat “the bearing will cause a problem” and its related knowledge. Suchknowledge may include various information, such as knowledge informationfor presenting an example of a problem caused in the past, URL(Universal Resource Locator) or a name of a database which stores thisknowledge information, an inquiry code of the database, a record numberin the database, etc. Further, such knowledge may include informationfor predicting what kind of bad condition may further be caused as theresult of occurrence of the problem, or information necessary forfinding out the cause of the problem.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing a schematic composition of datastructure of information stored in the comparison report dictionary unit205. As shown in FIG. 6, information stored in the comparison reportdictionary unit 205 is also organized in table format.

Information is organized in the table 601 such that each reportinformation corresponds to one of the rows, a stress name is stored inthe column 602, a strength name is stored in the column 603, a procedurefor comparing the stress name and strength name is stored in the column604, a condition to be satisfied by a result of the comparison is storedin the column 605, and report information is stored in the column 606.

In FIG. 6, “>” comparison is specified as the means for comparing thestress name “PV value” and strength name “limited PV value”, and “true”is stored as the condition to be satisfied by the result of thiscomparison. Instead of this, “−(subtraction)” comparison may be storedas the means for comparison, and “positive” may be stored as thecondition to be satisfied by the result of the comparison. Or, variousother calculations and conditions may be stored.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing procedures of a design support processperformed under circumstance where various information as describedabove are stored in advance. The following explanation will be made withreference to FIG. 7.

First, the input reception unit 206 receives input of definitionattribute names of a product to be designed (step S701).

As a result, information regarding a product which a designer hasdesigned with a CAD/CAM system is received. Or, the informationregarding the product to be designed is directly received from thedesigner.

In the present embodiment, since the designer designs a “polyamidebearing”, definition attribute names to be input in step S701 are“polyamide”, and “radial bearing”. Generally, various other definitionattribute names are to be input in step S701.

Then, the definition attribute obtaining unit 207 obtains any of theinput definition attribute names that is stored in the definitionattribute dictionary unit 202, and parameter names relating to theobtained definition attribute name, and remark about whether eachobtained parameter name is a control attribute or a stress attribute(step S702).

At this time, the control attribute obtaining unit 208 obtains theparameter names of control attributes obtained by the definitionattribute obtaining unit 207 from the control attribute dictionary unit215, in order to confirm that those parameter names are stored in thecontrol attribute dictionary unit 215.

In the present embodiment, the definition attribute dictionary unit 202stores parameter names of control attributes as character strings.However, the definition attribute dictionary unit 202 may storeidentification codes of the control attributes. In this case, thecontrol attribute dictionary unit 215 will store the identificationcodes of the control attributes and character strings representing theparameter names in association with each other. And the controlattribute obtaining unit 208 will refer to the control attributedictionary unit 215 using the identification codes of the parameters ofcontrol attributes as keys, and obtain the parameter names of thecontrol attributes from the control attribute dictionary unit 215.

As the result of step S702, “polyamide wear coefficient K_(pa)” (controlattribute) is obtained for “polyamide”, and “guaranteed operation hourHr” (control attribute), “amount of wear tolerance δ” (controlattribute), “wear coefficient K” (control attribute), “pressure Papplied to bearing” (stress attribute), and “bearing sliding velocity V”(stress attribute” are obtained for “radial bearing”.

Then, the strength obtaining unit 209 obtains from the strengthdictionary unit 203, a name of strength which can be calculated usingthe obtained parameter names of control attributes, and the procedurefor calculating the value associated with the strength (step S703).

Thus, the strength obtaining unit 209 obtains the strength name “limitedPV value” which can be calculated using “guaranteed operation hour Hr”(control attribute), “amount of wear tolerance δ” (control attribute),and “wear coefficient K” (control attribute), and the procedure“δ/(Hr·K)” for calculating the strength value.

On the other hand, the stress obtaining unit 210 obtains a name ofstress which can be calculated using the obtained parameter names ofstress attributes and the procedure for calculating the value associatedwith the stress from the stress dictionary unit 204 (step S704).

Thus, the stress obtaining unit 210 obtains the stress name “PV value”which can be calculated using “pressure P applied to bearing” (stressattribute) and “bearing sliding velocity V” (stress attribute), and theprocedure “P·V” for calculating the stress value.

In a case where the obtained strength name which can be calculated andthe obtained stress name which can be calculated are stored inassociation with each other in the comparison report dictionary unit205, the report information obtaining unit 211 obtains the procedure forcomparison and report information to be reported when the result of acomparison satisfies the predetermined condition, which are stored inassociation with the obtained strength name and obtained stress name(step S705).

In the present embodiment, the strength name “limited PV value” and thestress name “PV value” are stored in association with each other in thecomparison report dictionary unit 205. Thus, the report informationobtaining unit 211 obtains “PV value>limited PV value” as the procedurefor comparison, and report information that “bearing will cause aproblem” if the result of the comparison satisfies the condition.

The substitution relation obtaining unit 216 obtains any pair ofparameter names of control attributes that is registered in the controlattribute dictionary unit 215 as constituting a substitution relation,from among the obtained parameter names of control attributes (stepS706).

In the present embodiment, a substitution relation that the parameter“wear coefficient K” can be substituted by the parameter “polyamide wearcoefficient K_(pa)” (control attribute) is obtained.

Then, when the procedure for comparison and the report information areobtained by the report information obtaining unit 211, the inputreception unit 206 further receives input of values of the obtainedparameters of control attributes and values of the obtained parametersof stress attributes. In a case where any of the obtained parameternames of control attributes is a parameter name which is indicated bythe obtained substitution relation as can be substituted by anotherparameter name, the input reception unit 206 receives input of a valueassociated with the parameter name which can be substituted, or a valueassociated with the parameter name which can be used as substitution(step S707).

Due to this step, the input reception unit 206 prompts the designer orthe CAD/CAM system to input the parameter values of the followingparameter names.

-   -   “guaranteed operation hour Hr”    -   “amount of wear tolerance δ”    -   either one of “wear coefficient K” and “polyamide wear        coefficient K_(pa)”    -   “pressure P applied to bearing”    -   “bearing sliding velocity V”

The strength calculation unit 212 calculates the strength value usingthe input parameter values of control attributes in accordance with theobtained procedure for calculating the strength value. At this time, ina case where the obtained procedure for calculating the strength valuedesignates the use of the parameter value associated with the parameterwhich is indicated by the obtained substitution relation as can besubstituted while the input reception unit 206 receives input of theparameter value associated with the parameter which can be used assubstitution instead of the parameter value associated with theparameter which can be substituted, the strength calculation unit 212calculates the strength value by substituting the parameter valueassociated with the parameter which can be substituted, by the parametervalue associated with the parameter which can be used as substitution(step S708).

In the present embodiment, the strength value “limited PV value” iscalculated by an expression “δ/(Hr·K)” in a case where “wear coefficientK” is input, or by an expression “δ/(Hr·K_(pa))” in a case where“polyamide wear coefficient K_(pa) is input.

The stress calculation unit 213 calculates the stress value using theinput parameter values of stress attributes in accordance with theobtained procedure for calculating the stress value (step S709).

In the present embodiment, the stress value “PV value” is calculated byan expression “P·V”.

Then, the comparison report unit 214 compares the calculated strengthvalue and the calculated stress value in accordance with the obtainedprocedure for comparison (step S710). In a case where the result of thecomparison satisfies the predetermined condition (step S710; Yes), thecomparison report unit 214 reports the obtained report information (stepS711) and terminates the design support process.

On the contrary, in a case where the result of the comparison does notsatisfy the predetermined condition (step S710; No), the comparisonreport unit 214 reports that no report information is discovered (stepS712), and then terminates the design support process.

In the present embodiment, the calculated stress value (PV value) andthe calculated strength value (limited PV value) are compared by anexpression “PV value>limited PV value”. In a case where this expressionis satisfied, the report information that “the bearing will cause aproblem” is reported.

As described in the present embodiment, upon reception of input ofdefinition attributes and control attributes of the product to bedesigned, the strength value and the stress value can be calculated andthe report information can be presented to the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, in consideration of the substitutionrelation between a control attribute and another control attribute, evenif the value associated with a necessary control attribute is not input,but if the value associated with its substitutive control attribute isinput, the strength value can be calculated using the value associatedwith the substitutive control attribute, and thus user's workload ofinputting can be reduced.

Another Embodiment

The present embodiment is suited to a case where a parameter valueassociated with a control attribute can be calculated from otherparameter values, in addition to the case explained in the aboveembodiment.

In a case where a parameter value associated with a given controlattribute can be calculated in accordance with a calculation procedureusing a parameter value associated with another control attribute, thecontrol attribute dictionary unit 215 stores this calculation procedure,the name of the calculation-use parameter used in this calculationprocedure, and the name of the parameter (calculation result parametername) which is the result of calculation in accordance with thiscalculation procedure, as a calculation relation.

For example, if there are provided control attributes “bearing length L”and “bore diameter D of bearing”, “cross section S of bearing” can becalculated in accordance with a procedure “S=L·D”.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic structure of a part of the control attributedictionary unit 215 where such calculation relations are stored.

In step S706, the substitution relation obtaining unit 216 obtains acalculation relation in which an obtained parameter name of a controlattribute is indicated as a calculation result parameter name and itscalculation-use parameter name from the control attribute dictionaryunit 215.

Further, in step S707, in a case where an obtained parameter name of acontrol attribute is a calculation result parameter name of an obtainedcalculation relation, the input reception unit 206 receives input of aparameter value associated with the calculation result parameter name,or instead of this, a parameter value associated with thecalculation-use parameter name,

For example, in a case where “cross section S of bearing” is a controlattribute obtained as a parameter name necessary for calculating astrength value, the input reception unit 206 needs to receive inputeither one of “bearing length L and bore diameter D of bearing” and“cross section S of bearing” based on the obtained calculation relation.

Then, in step S708, in a case where an obtained procedure forcalculating a value associated with the strength designates the use ofthe parameter value associated with the calculation result parametername of the obtained calculation relation and the input reception unit206 receives input of the parameter value associated with thecalculation-use parameter name instead of the parameter value associatedwith the calculation result parameter name, the strength calculationunit 212 obtains the calculation procedure of the calculation relationfrom the control attribute dictionary unit 215, calculates the necessaryparameter value using the input parameter value associated with thecalculation-use parameter name in accordance with the calculationprocedure, and finally calculates the strength value by substituting theparameter value associated with the calculation result parameter name bythe calculated parameter value.

That is, in a case where “cross section S of bearing” is input, thestrength value is calculated using this value. However in a case where“bearing length L and bore diameter D of bearing” are input, thestrength value is calculated using “D·L” instead of “cross section S ofbearing”.

According to this embodiment, if a parameter value necessary forcalculating the strength value can be calculated using a parameter valuealready input by the user, the strength value can be automaticallycalculated after calculating the necessary parameter value by using thealready input parameter value and thereby user's workload of inputtingcan be reduced.

In the present embodiment, such calculation relation is utilized onlyfor control attributes. However, similar calculation relation can beapplied to between stress attributes, or to between a stress attributeand a control attribute. For example, “pressure P applied to bearing”(stress attribute) can be calculated using “force F applied to bearing”(stress attribute) and “cross section S of bearing” (control attribute)in accordance with “P=F/S”. Accordingly, it is possible to reduceworkload of inputting parameters with the use of this calculationrelation, likewise the calculation relation between control attributes.

Another Embodiment

The design support apparatus 201 according to the present invention canbe structured as described below.

The definition attribute dictionary unit 202 further stores aparent-child relation between a given definition attribute name andanother definition attribute name.

For example, “bearing” includes two types, namely, “radial bearing” and“rolling bearing”, and “rolling bearing” further includes two types,namely, “ball bearing” and “roller bearing”. Parent-child relation amongthem can be stored as below.

-   -   “bearing” (parent)—“radial bearing” (child)    -   “bearing” (parent)—“rolling bearing” (child)    -   “rolling bearing” (parent)—“ball bearing” (child)    -   “rolling bearing” (parent)—“roller bearing” (child)

The above are a part extracted from a hierarchy of parent-childrelation.

Also with regard to “spring”, parent-child relations as described belowcan be considered.

-   -   “spring” (parent)—“leaf spring” (child)    -   “spring” (parent)—“coil spring” (child)    -   “coil spring” (parent)—“compression coil spring” (child)    -   “coil spring” (parent)—“tension coil spring” (child)    -   “coil spring” (parent)—“twist coil spring” (child)

With the use of such a parent-child relation, a so-called is-a relationsuch as “radial bearing is-a bearing” can be represented. Theparent-child relation is not limited to the purpose of representing anis-a relation. As will be described below, the parent-child relation canbe used for representing other relations.

In a case where any parent-child relation in which a definitionattribute name already obtained by the definition attribute obtainingunit 207 is indicated as the child is stored in the definition attributedictionary unit 202, the definition attribute obtaining unit 207 furtherobtains the definition attribute name of the parent of this parent-childrelation, parameter names relating to this parent definition attribute,and remarks about whether each of these parameter names is a controlattribute or a stress attribute.

For example, in a case where the product to be designed is a “rollerbearing” unlike the above embodiments, in addition to the controlattributes and stress attributes of “roller bearing”, control attributesand stress attributes of “rolling bearing” and control attributes andstress attributes of “bearing” are also obtained.

In a case where an is-a relation is to be represented between aparent-child relation as described above, the field to be searched isexpanded from a given definition attribute to a more general definitionattribute. In other words, with regard to this case, the field to besearched is expanded from “child” to “parent”. Accordingly, as will bedescribed below, a relation other than an is-a relation can be expressedbetween a parent-child relation. It may be possible to consider that “aparent-child relation is a relation merely indicating the basicdirection, i.e., in which direction the field to be searched isexpanded”.

If the number of control attributes and stress attributes to be obtainedincreases, the number of strength values and stress values which can becalculated using any of those obtained control attributes and stressattributes greatly increases. Further, the amount of report informationto be obtained is also expected to increase.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase theamount of report information to be obtained, by expanding the field tobe searched toward the direction of parent, with regard to a givendefinition attribute which is in a parent-child relation. Especially ina case where a parent-child relation is constituted such that “theparent represents a more general nature and the child represents a morespecific nature”, it is possible to expand the field to be searchedtoward the generality.

Further, it is possible to treat a parent-child relation as a moregeneral relation. That is, the definition attribute dictionary unit 202can store a parent-child relation in which a given definition attributename is the parent and another definition attribute name is the child,and as well can store its reversed parent-child relation in which thegiven definition attribute name is the child and the another definitionattribute name is the parent.

In this case, since the both are the parent and the child of the other,it is more natural to associate those definition attribute names witheach other in an “equal relation” or a “relation combined with a certainstrong relationship”. That is, it is possible to represent an “equalrelation” and a “relation combined with a certain strong relationship”by using the data structure of a “parent-child relation”.

In this case, an is-a relation is not the only relation that can berepresented by a parent-child relation. An “equals-to” relation (equalrelation, equivalent relation) and a “relates-to” relation (relationcombined with a certain strong relationship) can also be represented bya parent-child relation.

A parent-child relation is a relation defining the direction in whichthe field to be searched is expanded, as described above. How to apply aparent-child relation to between definition attributes can beappropriately changed in accordance with the kind of the product to bedesigned or the field in which the design support apparatus 201 is used.Accordingly, it is possible to regard only a parent-child relation inwhich the both are the parent and the child of the other as a relates-torelation. And it is also possible to regard even a parent-child relationin which one is the parent and the other is the child, and the reverseis not satisfied, as a relates-to relation.

By using such relations, in a case where a definition attribute isobtained, in addition to the control attributes and stress attributes ofthe obtained definition attribute's own, control attributes and stressattributes of a definition attribute which is in a “equal relation” or a“relation combined with a certain strong relationship” with the obtaineddefinition attribute can be obtained. Thus, it is possible to obtainmore report information by expanding the field to be searched.

In the above explanation, if there is a parent-child relation, the fieldto be searched is expanded from the child to the parent. However, it ispossible to expand the field to be searched in a reversed direction.

That is, in a case where any parent-child relation in which a definitionattribute name already obtained by the definition attribute obtainingunit 207 is indicated as the parent is stored in the definitionattribute dictionary unit 202 and there are a plurality of definitionattribute names which are the children of this parent definitionattribute, input for selecting one or more of the plurality of childdefinition attribute names is received. The definition attributeobtaining unit 207 obtains the selected child definition attributename(s), parameter names relating to the selected child definitionattribute name(s), and remarks about whether each of theses parameternames is a control attribute or a stress attribute.

For example, a “bearing” is assumed as the product to be designed,unlike the “radial bearing” in the above embodiments. In this case,first, the user is requested to input whether the product to be designedis a “radial bearing” or a “rolling bearing”. If the user inputs the“rolling bearing”, the user is further requested to input whether theproduct to be designed is a “ball bearing” or a “roller bearing”. If theuser input the “roller bearing”, in addition to the control attributesand stress attributes of “bearing”, control attributes and stressattributes of “rolling bearing” and control attributes and stressattributes of “roller bearing” are also obtained by the definitionattribute obtaining unit 207.

A case where the parent is a definition attribute indicating a materialor a component and the children are definition attributes indicating abrand name of the material and a model number of the component in whichthe product indicated by the child is designed, is suitable forexpanding the field to be searched toward the direction of child.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain more reportinformation by expanding the field to be searched toward the directionof child with regard to a given definition attribute which is in aparent-child relation, and also possible to restrict the field to besearched so as not to be too broadened, by appropriately urging the userto put a limit to the field to be searched. Particularly, in a casewhere a parent-child relation is constituted such that “the parentrepresents a more general nature and the child represents a morespecific nature”, it is possible to expand the field to be searchedtoward the direction of specific nature. For example, report informationwhich reports a problem to be caused not in a general “radial bearing”but in a “radial bearing” which is manufactured by a company A and whosemodel number is B, can be obtained.

This scheme can also be applied to the case where “equal relation” and“relation combined with a certain strong relationship” are expressedusing a parent-child relation. According to this scheme, it is possibleto obtain more report information by expanding the field to be searchedwhile restricting the field to be searched so as not to be toobroadened, by urging the user to appropriately put a limit to the fieldto be searched.

Another Embodiment

In the present embodiment, in addition to the relations described in theabove embodiment, an exclusive relation is also taken intoconsideration.

The definition attribute dictionary unit 202 further stores an exclusiverelation between a given definition attribute name and anotherdefinition attribute name.

For example, with regard to “plastic”, the following exclusive relationscan be considered.

-   -   “polyamide”, “polycarbonate”, and “polyacetal” in view of        material    -   “thermoplastic resin” and “thermosetting resin” in view of        thermal characteristics    -   “conductivity” and “non-conductivity” in view of conductivity

In a case where the definition attributes are organized and stored insuch a hierarchical structure, it is possible to easily store exclusiverelations.

Report information stored in the comparison report dictionary unit 205includes a definition attribute name relating to the report informationitself.

Among the obtained report information, the comparison report unit 214reports report information whose corresponding condition indicated inthe column 605 is satisfied and which does not include a definitionattribute name which is stored in the definition attribute dictionaryunit 202 as constituting an exclusive relation with an input definitionattribute name.

For example, even if the input definition attribute name is “polyamide”,report information regarding something other than “polyamide” may oftenbe obtained (especially in a case where the field to be searched isexpanded in accordance with a parent-child relation, an equal relation,or a relation combined with a certain relationship as in the aboveembodiment). Accordingly, in a case where the input definition attributename is “polyamide”, the comparison report unit 214 abandons reportinformation regarding “polycarbonate” and “polyacetal” and does notreport such report information.

Further, the input reception unit 206 may receive input ofto-be-excluded definition attribute names which should be excluded fromthe product to be designed, in order for the user to specify unnecessarydefinition attribute names in advance. The comparison report unit 214may report information whose corresponding condition is satisfied andwhich does not include the input to-be-excluded definition attributenames, among the obtained report information.

Further, the comparison report unit 214 may report information whosecorresponding condition is satisfied and at least one of whose includingdefinition attribute names is the input definition attribute name, amongthe obtained report information.

That is, in the above example, only in a case where any reportinformation explicitly includes “polyamide”, this report information isreported.

Due to this embodiment, it is possible to carefully select reportinformation to be reported from among the obtained report information,and screen out unnecessary report information as much as possible, andthereby to present only necessary report information to the user.

As described above, it is possible to provide a design support apparatusand design support method suitable for discovering at the time ofdesigning, possibility of causing any problem in a product to bedesigned, and a program for controlling a computer to realize suchapparatus and method.

Various embodiments and changes may be made thereunto without departingfrom the broad spirit and scope of the invention. The above-describedembodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention, not tolimit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the presentinvention is shown by the attached claims rather than the embodiments.Various modifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of theclaims of the invention and within the claims are to be regarded to bein the scope of the present invention.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-76895filed on Mar. 19, 2002 and including specification, claims, drawings andsummary. The disclosure of the above Japanese Patent Application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A design support apparatus comprising: an inputreception unit; a strength calculation unit; a stress calculation unit;and a comparison report unit, wherein: said input reception unitreceives an input of a parameter name of a product to be designed and aparameter value associated with the parameter name; said strengthcalculation unit calculates a strength value of the product to bedesigned using the parameter name and the parameter value whose inputhas been received, in accordance with a predetermined calculationprocedure; said stress calculation unit calculates a value (stressvalue) of a stress which is applied to the product to be designed usingthe parameter name and the parameter value whose input has beenreceived, in accordance with a predetermined calculation procedure; andsaid comparison report unit compares the calculated strength value withthe calculated stress value, and reports report information which isassociated with the comparison in a case where the comparison satisfiesa predetermined condition.
 2. A design support method comprising: aninput receiving step; a strength calculating step; a stress calculatingstep; and a comparison reporting step, wherein: said input receivingstep receives an input of a parameter name of a product to be designedand a parameter value associated with the parameter name; said strengthcalculating step calculates a strength value of the product to bedesigned using the parameter name and parameter value whose input hasbeen received, in accordance with a predetermined calculation procedure;said stress calculating step calculates a value (stress value) of astress which is applied to the product to be designed using theparameter name and parameter value whose input has been received, inaccordance with a predetermined calculation procedure; and saidcomparison reporting step compares the calculated strength value withthe calculated stress value and reports report information which isassociated with a result of the comparison, in a case where the resultof the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.
 3. A program forcausing a computer to act as the design support apparatus according toclaim
 1. 4. A storage medium containing a program for causing a computerto act as the design support apparatus according to the method of claim2.